A more recent addition to the 5G phone race is Oppo, with the Chinese maker confirming that it has successfully made a connection between a customised Oppo R15 smartphone and a 5G network.

And, while this connection was made in Oppo's 5G communication protocol laboratory, it is nonetheless a very positive sign that the maker now has a very firm grasp of incorporating the technology into its devices, paving the way for a fully commercial 2019 release.

This has been coming, too. In January 2018 Oppo finalised a deal with Qualcomm to use its components and technology in its devices, while in May 2018 it demonstrated the world's first 5G video call, too.

Taken together, this points to a March or April release date for Oppo's first 5G phone, a date based on the launch window of this year's Oppo R15.